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Original poster

Police job - vetting procedure/financial issues.

17 replies

MS2402 · 13/02/2025 09:08

Hi all,

I have been given a conditional offer for an admin job in the safeguarding department in the police.

However, I am so worried about the police financial vetting section. I have got 4 outstanding loans which equal £1200 and an overdraft of £1250. My credit score is terrible and I have missed 12 payments in 6 months. However, I have now set up a payment plan for these and stuff.

Will this affect my application massively?

Any advice at all for this would be appreciated.

OP posts:
Mrsttcno1 · 13/02/2025 10:56

I’d be really surprised if you’d be offered the job with this financial state OP sorry. The point of the financial vetting is to see if you have ever been in, are in, or are likely to be in financial difficulty, and to check financial responsibility, because if you are then you could be a risk to then as someone who would accept bribes/blackmail/corruption.

Original poster
MS2402 · 13/02/2025 11:25

Mrsttcno1 · 13/02/2025 10:56

I’d be really surprised if you’d be offered the job with this financial state OP sorry. The point of the financial vetting is to see if you have ever been in, are in, or are likely to be in financial difficulty, and to check financial responsibility, because if you are then you could be a risk to then as someone who would accept bribes/blackmail/corruption.

Is there anything I can do? To prove I am paying these off though and that was my past, the loans aren't longer than 5 years or anything like that?

OP posts:
Original poster
MS2402 · 13/02/2025 11:26

MS2402 · 13/02/2025 11:25

Is there anything I can do? To prove I am paying these off though and that was my past, the loans aren't longer than 5 years or anything like that?

Show quote history

I've also never had an IVA or CCJ or anything

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Crime
SnowdropPancake · 13/02/2025 11:26

The very best thing you can do is be 100% upfront with the vetting. One of the 'tests' of vetting is about honesty. Be honest with them.

Mrsttcno1 · 13/02/2025 11:30

MS2402 · 13/02/2025 11:25

Is there anything I can do? To prove I am paying these off though and that was my past, the loans aren't longer than 5 years or anything like that?

Show quote history

Not really no, it’s the financial responsibility issue combined with the financial difficulty and you can’t explain around that really. The debt alone wouldn’t have made much difference, but the debt plus 12 missed payments in such a short space of time, and terrible credit, makes you a risk.

My partner & sister both work in jobs with the same financial vetting and wouldn’t have been given the jobs in the situation you describe, it’s a risk.

12 missed payments in the last 6 months isn’t “your past”, it’s your present.

Original poster
MS2402 · 13/02/2025 11:30

SnowdropPancake · 13/02/2025 11:26

The very best thing you can do is be 100% upfront with the vetting. One of the 'tests' of vetting is about honesty. Be honest with them.

Okay, amazing! I think everything else will back all clear regarding criminal records, and all that. Just the financial bit I am worried about

OP posts:
Mrsttcno1 · 13/02/2025 11:31

Forgot to add I also have to pass financial vetting for my role & I wouldn’t have gotten the job with bad credit, missed payments etc for same reason

Original poster
MS2402 · 13/02/2025 11:32

Mrsttcno1 · 13/02/2025 11:30

Not really no, it’s the financial responsibility issue combined with the financial difficulty and you can’t explain around that really. The debt alone wouldn’t have made much difference, but the debt plus 12 missed payments in such a short space of time, and terrible credit, makes you a risk.

My partner & sister both work in jobs with the same financial vetting and wouldn’t have been given the jobs in the situation you describe, it’s a risk.

12 missed payments in the last 6 months isn’t “your past”, it’s your present.

Show quote history

But that loan has been paid off and can give them evidence. I'll just be 100% honest and see what happens

OP posts:
Mrsttcno1 · 13/02/2025 11:33

MS2402 · 13/02/2025 11:32

But that loan has been paid off and can give them evidence. I'll just be 100% honest and see what happens

Show quote history

You said you have 4 outstanding loans and an overdraft?

mynameiscalypso · 13/02/2025 11:35

It's not the debt, it's the missed payments which suggest you're in financial difficulties.

Original poster
MS2402 · 13/02/2025 11:35

Mrsttcno1 · 13/02/2025 11:33

You said you have 4 outstanding loans and an overdraft?

Show quote history

Yes but the one I missed the payments on has been paid off.

OP posts:
Mrsttcno1 · 13/02/2025 11:37

MS2402 · 13/02/2025 11:35

Yes but the one I missed the payments on has been paid off.

Show quote history

But the missed payments issue is not specific to that loan, that’s the point. If you’ve missed 12 payments in 6 months that is a pretty clear sign you are struggling financially. The fact that particular loan is paid off is irrelevant.

MeanderingGently · 13/02/2025 11:39

Just be up front and entirely honest with them.

I had a friend who went for a job in the prison service and had a similar financial vetting process. Turned out she had debt problems because she'd been caught up in an online "romance scam" so hadn't told anyone because she was ashamed to have been scammed.

However, she was upfront about it, explained what happened and what she'd learned from it and also how she was tackling the leftover debt (she'd borrowed to pay the scammer and then had problems repaying).
It was fine, she got the job.

MagentaRocks · 13/02/2025 12:39

I agree it will be the missed payments that will be the issue. I have regular financial vetting in my police job. Credit cards and loans are fine if you are managing them. Any payment defaults and/or CCJs etc will flag up as a concern and it is probable that vetting will be failed.

TheSparkling · 13/02/2025 12:45

I failed the financial vetting for a call handler role as I was made bankrupt some years ago.
They were clear about why it happened. I think the police are very keen to keep risks low.

lizzyBennet08 · 13/02/2025 12:49

I'm afraid it's very unlikely that you will be offered the role with missed payments.
The police have very high standards but you shouldn't have this issue in other admin roles so at least there is that.

TidyDancer · 13/02/2025 13:48

Hi OP. I remembered a similar thread back when I was thinking about working for the police so I went back and searched for it. The OP was applying for a 999 call handler role and the thread has the exact same title as yours. It's from November 2022. Sorry I can't link to it because I'm on the app but if you search your title it should come up. She had more debt than you but was consistently paying for longer. She did get the job after passing vetting so I don't think it's a hopeless situation for you at all.

I also have a friend who applied for the same role with some debt and she was told that she would need to go through another financial vetting within 1-2 years of starting the role just to check the progress on the situation. She didn't take up the post in the end but they seemed to be reasonably open to discussion and wasn't a 'computer says no' situation. I gather they want to know you're in control of your situation and this is looked at on a case by case basis and to ensure you're not susceptible to bribery!

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